Support element assembly

Abstract

A support element assembly includes at least two types of standard blocks. The standard blocks are connected to each other and selected from the group consisting of a first standard block having a first elastic constant and a first height, a second standard block having a second elastic constant and the first height, a third standard block having the first elastic constant and a second height, and a fourth standard block having the second elastic constant and the second height. The standard blocks are manufactured by 3D printing and have identical lattices, and each standard block has a jointing structure.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A support element assembly, comprising at least two types of standard blocks, wherein the at least two types of standard blocks are detachably connected to each other and wherein the at least two types of standard blocks are selected from a group consisting of:
 a first standard block having a first elastic constant and a first height;   a second standard block having a second elastic constant and the first height;   a third standard block having the first elastic constant and a second height; and   a fourth standard block having the second elastic constant and the second height,   wherein the at least two types of standard blocks are manufactured by three-dimensional (3D) printing and have substantially identical lattices, and each of the at least two types of standard blocks has a jointing structure.   
     
     
         2 . The support element assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the first elastic constant ranges from 3-15 N/mm. 
     
     
         3 . The support element assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the second elastic constant ranges from 10-40 N/mm. 
     
     
         4 . The support element assembly of  claim 1 , wherein a ratio of the first elastic constant to the second elastic constant ranges from 0.075-1.5. 
     
     
         5 . The support element assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the first height equals an average distance between a top surface and a bottom surface of the first standard block or the second standard block, and the second height equals an average distance between a top surface and a bottom surface of the third standard block or the fourth standard block. 
     
     
         6 . The support element assembly of  claim 1 , wherein an absolute value of a slope of an upper surface of the support element assembly is not greater than 0.75. 
     
     
         7 . The support element assembly of  claim 6 , wherein the support element assembly is composed of a single layer of standard blocks in a height direction, the first height is less than the second height, and a difference between the first height and the second height is not greater than 75% of the second height. 
     
     
         8 . The support element assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the lattices each have a lattice dimension of 8.5-10 mm. 
     
     
         9 . The support element assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the lattices each have a lattice strut with a diameter of 0.9-1.0 mm. 
     
     
         10 . The support element assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the jointing structure is one selected from a group consisting of a rail, a lock, a fastener, and a hook-and-loop fastener. 
     
     
         11 . The support element assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the jointing structure comprises a groove defined on a first one of the at least two types of standard blocks and a slider defined on a second one of the at least two types of standard blocks, and a sidewall of the first one of the at least two types of standard blocks defining the groove surrounds more than 180 degrees of the slider. 
     
     
         12 . The support element assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the jointing structure comprises a lock defined on a first one of the at least two types of standard blocks and a slot defined on a second one of the at least two types of standard blocks, the slot being configured to receive the lock such that a sidewall of the first one of the at least two types of standard blocks from which the lock protrudes abuts a sidewall of the second one of the at least two types of standard blocks into which the slot is defined. 
     
     
         13 . The support element assembly of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of:
 the jointing structure comprises a groove defined on a first one of the at least two types of standard blocks and a slider defined on a second one of the at least two types of standard blocks, and a sidewall of the first one of the at least two types of standard blocks defining the groove surrounds more than 180 degrees of the slider, or   the jointing structure comprises a lock defined on the first one of the at least two types of standard blocks and a slot defined on the second one of the at least two types of standard blocks, the slot being configured to receive the lock such that the sidewall of the first one of the at least two types of standard blocks from which the lock protrudes abuts a sidewall of the second one of the at least two types of standard blocks into which the slot is defined.   
     
     
         14 . The support element assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the support element assembly consists of two of the first standard block, the second standard block, the third standard block, or the fourth standard block. 
     
     
         15 . The support element assembly of  claim 14 , wherein each of the two of the first standard block, the second standard block, the third standard block, or the fourth standard block has a planar top surface. 
     
     
         16 . The support element assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the support element assembly comprises at least three types of standard blocks, and the at least three types of standard blocks are selected from a group consist of the first standard block, the second standard block, the third standard block, and the fourth standard block. 
     
     
         17 . The support element assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the support element assembly comprises the first standard block, the second standard block, and the third standard block, and the second standard block is between the first standard block and the third standard block. 
     
     
         18 . The support element assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the support element assembly comprises:
 a plurality of the first standard blocks, and   the second standard block surrounded on at least three sides by the plurality of the first standard blocks.   
     
     
         19 . The support element assembly of  claim 18 , wherein the support element assembly comprises:
 the fourth standard block, wherein at least one of the plurality of the first standard blocks is between the second standard block and the fourth standard block.   
     
     
         20 . The support element assembly of  claim 1 , wherein each of the at least two types of standard blocks comprises extruded polyurethane.